The Huron Emery Volume 6 Issue 3 December 2020

Page 1

THE

HURON EMERY

@THEHURONEMERY

HURON HIGH SCHOOL, 2727 FULLER RD., ANN ARBOR MI 48105

VOL. 6 ISSUE 3

Teens continue to find love with social distancing VERENA WU, RUQAYYIAH ALSAADY AND KIANA HEMATI STAFF WRITERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR xxxxxxxLove is in the air, but so is COVID-19. Dating is a large part of many high schoolers’ lives, but in the middle of a pandemic, how has it changed? Senior Harry Youngman has been looking for a new relationship. “Before March, it was easier to go out with someone and have a good time, but now it’s a lot of them just stopping talking to you, getting ghosted and not having an explanation why,” Youngman said. “It’s sad and irritating because they stop talking to you and you don’t really have a way to discuss it in person.” The lack of inperson connection and communication creates feelings of separation that other people have experienced as well. xxxxx"I

NEWS

tendency to pull away and isolate myself which I think a lot of people do

and a lot of people are experiencing,” senior Sophie Hammond said. “I’ve been trying to work harder to reach out to people instead of expecting a reach out from them. Little things like everyday texts just like ‘how you are doing’ can go a long way so that they know that you’re thinking about them.” Hammond has been dating her boyfriend for a little over a year. He is a freshman in college, but has been in Ann Arbor because his school, University of Pennsylvania, is completely online. “I didn’t see shutdown in March except like once or twice a month

See DATING, PAGE 3

A2ReasonableReturn families display their support for returning to in-person learning in several ways including yard signs and attending school board meetings. CLARA BOWMAN

Return metrics cause polarization CLARA BOWMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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oughly one in seven Michigan school districts have had no in-person learning for the 2020-2021 school year, a minority that Ann Arbor Public Schools is a part of. At the beginning of the school year, AAPS families were given three choices for how they wanted their students to “attend school,” including one that has students eventually attend school inperson. AAPS created metrics to guide when it would reopen its physical doors.

GRAPHIC BY MAYA KOGULAN

“Now we can look back and see September was actually our lowest point compared to the whole fall,” AAPS Rec and Ed director Jenna Bacolor said. “But at that time, we thought things were going to get better and then we'll be able to reopen face-to-face.” The metrics include casecount and positivity rate where it would be safe to return to classrooms. Washtenaw county has not met these thresholds since June, and even then it was only for a few days, while the metrics would have to be

met for two weeks in order to return face-to-face. In essence, if AAPS follows these guidelines alone, the chance of any student seeing the inside of a classroom seems unlikely, much less high schoolers. “We're always considering new research and guidance,” Bacolor said. “So the metrics are meant to inform decision making, along with other research and data and good decision making by the school board.” For various reasons, local students and families have become frustrated with the metrics. That is

See METRICS, PAGE 3

briefs

Huron PTSO kicks off “celebrate a senior” program

News PAGE 2

KAITLYN SABB FEATURE EDITOR Without knowing if traditional senior activities will run, the Huron PTSO came up with a new, voluntary program called, “celebrate a senior.” The goal is to spread joy to the class of 2021. Seniors will be asked if they want to participate. “We are now working on getting your favorite things and will match you up with an anonymous sponsor,” parent committee member Molly Hester said. parents or other sponsors will demonstrate interest in sponsoring one or more seniors. These sponsors will provide the funding for small surprises that will be mailed to or Students who are interested in the “surprise” will be provided with a sponsor who was matched with them and given their list of favorite colors, candies, fast food, drink, sports

Even though traditional senior activities might not happen this year, seniors will receive anonymous gifts if they participate. KAITLYN

The music departments continue playing with some unique solutions

Mental Health Feature PAGE 6 + 7

Students and the elderly face mental health struggles due to quarantine

SABB

team, college and more. Additionally, there will be precautionary measures taken in order to stay socially distanced and responsible contact manner – on the porch, in the mailbox, or on the doorknob, after a quick knock or ring of the doorbell,” Hester said. “ The idea is for this to be completely anonymous and just a happy surprise.”

See MORE BRIEFS, PAGE 2

Review

PAGE 12 "If Anything Happens I Love You" explores how parents cope with a tragic loss

Sports

PAGE 16 Senior athletes commit to universities across the nation despite a virtual senior year


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